The Parts of a Gerund Phrase

A gerund is not like a normal noun because a gerund can take a direct object (just like a verb can). The direct object of a gerund is known as a gerund complement. For example:

eating a cake

taking a drink

painting a fence

These complements (or objects) make up part of the gerund phrase.

Gerunds can also be modified. For example:

eating a cake quickly

taking a drink at the watering hole

painting a fence with the brush his wife bought him

These modifiers also make up part of the gerund phrase.

More Examples of Gerund Phrases

Below are some more examples of gerund phrases (shaded):

Arithmetic is the ability to count up to twenty without taking off your shoes. (Mickey Mouse)

(gerund in bold)

Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought. (Albert Szent-Gyorgyi, 1893-1986)

Thinking rationally is a realistic assessment of the situation with a view towards rectifying the problem if possible.

Do Not Confuse Gerunds with Present Participles

Not every word which ends -ing is a gerund. Present participles also end -ing. Present participles are also verbals (i.e., words formed from verbs), but they are not used as nouns. They are used as adjectives or when forming verbs in a progressive tense. For example: